When A Man Loves- A Mini Review

Name: When A Man Loves
Genre: Melodrama, Romance
Writer: Kim In Young (2012s Man of the Equator)
Studio: MBC
Year: 2013
Starring:
Song Seung Heon as Han Tae Sang
Shin Se Kyung as Seo Mi Do
Yeon Woo Jin as Lee Jae Hee
Chae Jung Ahn as Baek Sung Joo

Show Premise: Han Tae Sang has lived a hard life and ends up working for a loan shark, but he wants a better life. He becomes a very successful business man through hard work and his quick wits. One day he meets Seo Mi Do and he wants to help and protect her, because she reminds him of himself when he was younger. He falls in love with her and shows her what a man is capable of when he loves.

Why I Chose This Show: Honestly didn't really read much about the show, but the concept sounded interesting. I didn't realize just how melodramatic this show was going to be. I just wasn't paying attention to the genre description when I started the show.

As I said, I didn't realize this was going to be a Melo, so I just started watching and the first few things I noticed was that there were a lot of familiar faces doing familiar things. Yeon Woo Jin from Arang is Jae Hee  and just as before, his character keeps butting into a romance in progress. Chae Jung Ahn from 1st Shop Coffee Prince is Sung Joo and is being a nuisance to everyone, AGAIN. Sometimes she does something so good that you respect her, then she'll turn right around and do something clingy or desperate or just mean. It was hard to get a hold on this character. Just like in Fashion King Shin Se Kyung is Seo Mi Do and can't seem to make up her mind, she's always up and down, back and forth between the two male characters. Who does she really like?!

It seemed as though I was watching all those shows put together, with my least favorite aspects of each. But I persevered and continued on because of Song Seung Heon, not only is this the best acting I've seen from him, but his character Tae Sang is by turns cute, endearing and intense. His lack of experience in love is sweet, but what draws you in is his loneliness, you just want him to be with the one he loves.

I won't do the usual list of things I did and did not like because, honestly there isn't much that I did like. I will just say that if you like:
1. Melodrama
2. Song Seung Heon, especially shirtless, cute, and well-dressed Song Seung Heon
3. Some crazy, but true friendship

This may be right up your alley.

However, if you're like me, and dislike:
1.Clingy exes and never-will be lovers
2. Indecisive female lead roles
3. An almost entirely full cast of ungrateful and shameless people
4. Ambiguous endings
5. A couple that's ends up together, but you're still not sure if it's love or duty

Then you may want to just read the recaps (like I had to do for the last three episodes), or better yet, just sit this one out and find a better show to watch, that won't have you wanting to kill off every character just to end to madness.
This drama, will only receive a 4 Hearts rating. I would give it less but the acting by everyone except Stone-Face Shin Se Kyung, was actually pretty good.